Article of furniture



Oct. 9, 1945.

s. D *EPWORTH ARTICLE 0F FURNITURE Filed Aprii 8, 1944 Wy f A fron/Vir Patented Oct. 9, 19.45

Sylvia D. Epworth, New-Yorin' N. Y., assigner to George Spalt & Sons, Inc., Albany, N. Y., a cor-v poration of New York ApplicationApril 8, 1944, Serial No. 530,194 Claims.-- (Cl. 311-1) This invention relates to articles of furniture,

and relates more particularly to tables, or the like, provided with a removable plug which may be disposed in the center of the table, or at any other convenient point.

In endl tables, center tables, bridge tables, or the like, it is frequently desired to place a lamp in the center or at some other convenient point on the table, and in cases particularly where it is desired to place the lamp in the center, there is always the objection of the lamp cord extending over the surface of the table to the edge thereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide a table ofspecial construction having a small opening therein within which is fitted a removable plug.

When a lamp is to be placed on the table, the plug is conveniently removed, thus permitting the lamp cord to -pass through the opening tothe lower surface of the Ytable top, and thence to the base receptacle. When the lamp is removed from the table and the plug inserted in place within the opening, theupper surface of such plug is flush with the upper surface of the table top, and the plug has a suiilciently snug t to cause it to appear as an inlaid element. Novel means are positioned on the lower surface of the table top to retain the plug in this latter position, and when it is desired to remove the plug, this retaining element, which is pivotally mounted on such lower surface of the table top, also is formed with a recess which supports the plug in this inoperative position, thus eliminating the possibility of the plug being lost during its period of non-use.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a table of the character described having. the removable plug which is readily inserted within the tabletop opening, and may also be removed withpequal speed and facility. Another object of the present invention is to provide a table or similar article of furniture with a central or otherwise shaped opening, provided with a removable closure element, which greatly increases the usefulness of the table, and may be added as an element thereto with only very slight additional cost.

In the drawing:

Fig.1 is a plan view of a table embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken bottom plan view of a table top embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a broken vertical section showing a m dified form of the invention.

" size or shape, and a plurality of legs II. At the Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof. The table includes a table top I0 of any desired center, or any other desired point on the table top, a circular or other shaped opening I2 is provided,

" such opening preferably having an enlarged portion I3 at its lower end, thus forming a shoulder MQ The plug I 6 is formed Vwith an external periphery of suc-h size as to relatively snugly fit opening I2, but the t should not be so tight is to prevent the plug from'being readily removed from the opening. The plug is further formed with an annular flange yI1 at its lower end, the collar I8 formed' by such flangec being seated against shoulder I4, thus limiting upward movement. The plug is so proportioned as to cause its upper surface to be planar with the uppersurfa e of the table top when in the position'illustrated in Fig. 2. The outer periphery of the nange I'l is of such size as to fairly snugly t the enlarged portion I3 of opening I2.

The retaining element for the plug may comprise a block 20 which may be generally rectangular in shape, although it may, if desired, be

rounded at one end, as shown at 2|. It is pivotally secured to the lower surface of the table top by means of a screw 22, or by,any other suitable means. On itslower surface, retaining block 20 carries a plug support 24 formed with a slot 25 extending inwardly from one end thereof of suf cient width to receive plug I S. Slot 25 is further formed at its upper end with an enlarged portion 26 of sufficient width to receive flange I1 voi plug I6. y It will accordingly be seen that when plug I6 is inserted Within opening I2 in the table top,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is supported in this position by retaining block 20'. lWhen, however,

it is desiredto remove the plug for the purpose of receiving the light cord through opening I2, block 20 is merely swung to one side, as illustrated in the broken lines in Fig. v3, thus permitting the plug to be moved downwardlyand out of the openingin the table top. Retaining block 20 may thus be left in this position to one side of opening I2, and the plug I6 turned upside down and inserted within slot 25 wherein flange' I1 is supported in the enlarged portion 26 of such slot.

It is shown in this position in broken lines inV Fig. 2.

In the modied form oi4 the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 'and 5, the table top Ill is provided with the opening I2.v having the enlarged portion VI3 at its lower end, and plug I 6 having ,55 flange I'I at its lower end is received within the opening in the same manner as in the first embodiment. of the invention. In this instance, however, the combined plug retaining and supporting clement 3u may be generally sectorshaped, and is also pivotally secured to the lower surface of the table top by means of screw 3|. The block 30 is sufficiently wide at its end opposite pivot 3| to provide a plane surface 32 for supporting plug i6 when the sameis inserted in place within the table top, as shownin Fig. 4.

The approximate position of the lower surface of the plug relative to retaining block 30. is illustrated in broken lines 33 in Fig. 5. The retaining block is further formed with an opening 34 of slightly larger diameter than the greatest diameter of the plug I6, such opening extending from the upper surface of such block to a point spaced from the lower surface thereof, thus forming a lower supporting wall 35 for the plug. 'I'his wall may have a central aperture 36. f

When it is desired to remove the plug from the opening in the table top, the supporting block 30 is swung to one side, to a point wherein opening 34 registers with opening I2-I3 in the table top, and when in'this position, the plug is forced l downwardly and Ais accordingly received within recess 34,`and rests upon lower wall 35. The supporting block is now rotated somewhat further on its pivotal support, and the cord may then be run through the opening I2. When it is desired to return the plug to its position in the table top, thesupporting block 30 is merely rotated to the second-mentioned position, that is, wherein opening 3l registers with opening I3, and the plug moved upwardly by inserting ones finger through opening 36, after which block 30 is rotated to the first-mentioned position.v

While I have herein shown and described two forms or' embodiments of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to two specific applications thereof, it is to be understood that the inventionv is limited neitherl to the .mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiments shown herein, but that extensive deviations from Y the illustrated forms or embodiments of the-invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof. What I claim is: 1. A table or the like having an opening in the top thereof through which a lamp cord may pass,

and a removable. plug for such opening, forming 4a closure therefor, the plug being formed with means for limiting upward movement of such plug, the upper surface of the plug when in inserted position being planar with `the upper surface of the table top, and retaining means for ythe plug comprising a block pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the table top, the block being swingable to one side of the opening to'per- I 'mit the plug to be'removed.

' 2. A table or the like having an opening in the' against the shoulder, limiting upward movement` of such plug, the upper-surface of the plug when in inserted position being planar with the upper surface of the table top and fitting snugly within the opening to provide a smooth, unbroken upper surface for such table top, means for supporting the plug when in such inserted position comprising a block pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the table top. and means for supporting the plug when it is removed from the opening comprising a horizontal recess in the block which receives theplug, the recess having an enlarged portion which supports the annular flange.

4. A table or the like having an opening in the top thereof through which a lamp cord may pass, and a removable plug for such opening, forming a closure therefor, such opening having an enlarged portion at its lower end forming a shoulder, the plug being formed with a flange 'at its lower end providing a collar which abuts against the shoulder, limiting upward movement of such plug, and means for supporting the plug when in insertedposition within the opening' comprising` a block pivotally mounted `on the lower surface of the table top, the block having a vertical aperture which registers with the table top opening when such block is rotated to a predetermined position, thus permitting the plug to drop into said aperture, and a lower wall for the aperture forming a support for the plug, said aperture being of such dimensions as -toreceive the entire plug and permit it to rest below the table top.

5. A table or the like having an opening in the top thereof through lwhich a lamp cord may pass, and ay removable plug for such opening, forming a closure therefor, such opening having an enlarged portion at its lowerend forminga shoulf der, the plug being formed with a ange at its lower end providing a collar which abuts against the shoulder, limiting upward movement of suchv plug, the upper surface of the plug when in insertedv position being planar with the upper. surface of the table top and fitting snugly Within the opening to provide a smooth, unbroken upper /surface for such table top, means for supporting f/the plug when in such inserted position comprisi ing a block pivotallv mounted on the lower surface of the table top, and means for supporting the plug when it is removed from the opening. the block having an aperture extending downwardly from its upper surface and terminating above its lower surface, the plug being adapted to drop'into said aperture when the block is revolved to a point wherein such aperture registers with the opening in the table top, thus permitting the plug to drop into said aperture; and alower walli'or the aperture'l forming a support for the plug said naperture being of such dimensions as to receiver permit it to rest below the 

